nmemkha:douchebag/hater: How do 3D printers make internal moving parts?

1. They "print" a part2. The remove it from the printer3. They manually install it internally into an assembly (possibly made of other 3d printed components).

sometimes this.

many 3d printers have mechanical tolerances that allow them to print parts with clearances of less than .01 inches, which means they basically they build both the housing and the moving part at the same time. shake the works around a bit once it's done to clear out the filler material, maybe actuate all the parts a few times, lubricate(if neccesary. some ceramic printing doesn't need lubrication), and away you go.

it really IS a fascinating process and gives you a lot of versatility if you're doing R&D/product development, or one-off manufacture. if you're doing mass production it blows.

buttery_shame_cave:many 3d printers have mechanical tolerances that allow them to print parts with clearances of less than .01 inches, which means they basically they build both the housing and the moving part at the same time. shake the works around a bit once it's done to clear out the filler material, maybe actuate all the parts a few times, lubricate(if neccesary. some ceramic printing doesn't need lubrication), and away you go.

Some allow the printing of "support material" around parts to hold them in place until they are completely printed. The support material can then be dissolved away.

you can't print the parts directly, but you can print the material used to make the molds

Saw a photo of a 3D Sand printer that runs 24/7 making molds for a foundry earlier this week.Probably one of the few actual manufacturing processes done with the things is using them for casting mold making

RatOmeter:RoxtarRyan: Mercutio74: Awww... I have an android phone. :(/Maybe it's because you to bother with this, you'd have to be the type of person who buys Apple products?That has to be the dumbest post. Ever. Of all time.

loonatic112358:buttery_shame_cave: if you're doing mass production it blows.

you can't print the parts directly, but you can print the material used to make the molds

Saw a photo of a 3D Sand printer that runs 24/7 making molds for a foundry earlier this week.Probably one of the few actual manufacturing processes done with the things is using them for casting mold making

okay, good point. and that right there is gonna be more than a smidge more efficient than investment molding on wax cores(the long-reigning process for doing complicated castings, very time-consuming more than anything else).